           |
Mumps Alert
 NH Department of Health and Human Services
129 Pleasant Street – Hugh Gallen State Office Park
Concord, NH 03301
PRESS RELEASE CONTACT
For Immediate Release Public Information Office
November 28, 2007 603-271-6526
State Health Officials on Alert After Mumps Outbreak in Maine
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) is on alert after learning of an outbreak of mumps in Maine. Since late September, the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has confirmed seven cases of mumps and is in the process of investigating several dozen suspect cases. Of the seven cases, two are students at the University of Maine.
“We are advising health care workers around the State to be vigilant,” said Acting Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas, “since mumps can be a serious health risk. The virus is typically more severe in adults than children. Our health care workers who come in contact with patients are our first line of defense in recognizing symptoms and immediately reporting any suspect cases to DHHS.”
“We are also asking school nurses and college health officials to maintain a high index of suspicion for mumps when they encounter a person with swollen salivary glands,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. José Montero, “and to refer them to their primary care provider as soon as possible. It is important that we take measures now to warn the public about the potential spread of this illness.”
Mumps can spread easily, especially among college-age students. In 2006, in the Midwestern United States, over 2500 cases of mumps were identified, primarily in college/university students.
DHHS is recommending two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine for all school-age children. A second dose of MMR is recommended for students in postsecondary educational settings who have not already received two doses. Suspected or confirmed cases of mumps by statute must be reported to NH DHHS Communicable Disease Control and Surveillance Section at (603) 271-4496 (after hours 800-852-3345 ext. 5300).
Mumps is an acute viral infection of the salivary glands. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, and swelling and tenderness of the cheeks. Transmission occurs through sneezing, coughing, contact with saliva (through sharing of utensils, towels, kissing, etc.), or from contact with surfaces that have become contaminated with the mumps virus. The incubation period is 16-18 days, and individuals are considered infectious from 3 days prior to 9 days after the onset of symptoms.
In the past 5 years, New Hampshire has had 14 reported cases of the mumps.
# # #
| ||
